Bring Your Rusty Cast Iron Pan Back to Life with a Potato

You love your cast iron skillet. It has been in the family for years. But one day, you pull it out and spot orange rust spots spreading across the surface. Water sat on it too long, and now you have a problem. Do not throw it away.

The solution is sitting in your pantry. A raw potato. Potatoes contain oxalic acid, a natural compound that reacts with rust. When you scrub rust with a cut potato, the oxalic acid turns iron oxide (rust) into iron oxalate. That new compound is water-soluble, meaning it rinses right off.

Add a little salt as an abrasive, and you have a powerful, non-toxic rust remover. No harsh chemicals, no expensive products, and no special tools. Just a potato and some salt from your kitchen.